A Gamification-Based Intervention Program that Encourages Physical Activity Improves Cardiorespiratory Fitness of College Students: ‘The Matrix rEFvolution Program’
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Mora González, José Rafael; Pérez López, Isaac José; Esteban Cornejo, Irene; Delgado Fernández, ManuelEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Aerobic fitness Health Innovation University Young adults
Date
2020-01-30Referencia bibliográfica
Mora-Gonzalez, J.; Pérez-López, I.J.; Esteban-Cornejo, I.; Delgado-Fernández, M. A Gamification-Based Intervention Program that Encourages Physical Activity Improves Cardiorespiratory Fitness of College Students: ‘The Matrix rEFvolution Program’. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 877. [doi:10.3390/ijerph17030877]
Sponsorship
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (Ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR)Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a gamification-based program on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels of college students. We divided 112 college students into an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). IG college students followed a 15-week gamification-based program, whereas CG followed traditional lectures. CRF was assessed using the 20-meter shuttle-run test. CRF significantly improved after the program in the IG compared to CG (d ≤ 0.94, p < 0.001). Only participants of IG had significant CRF improvements (d ≤ 0.87, p < 0.001) between pre- and post-assessments. In the IG, from the students who attended 100% of lectures, 87.8% met physical activity recommendations for 100% of weeks, whereas from those who attended <100%, only 26.7% met them them for 100% of weeks (p < 0.001). Participants who met recommendations 100% of weeks had a significant CRF improvement (p < 0.001). Motivating college students throughout innovative teaching methods (e.g., gamification) can lead to health improvements.